Kroger on Thursday reported quarterly earnings and revenue that fell short of analysts’ expectations, sending its shares sharply lower before the markets opened.
Shares of the company plunged 10 percent in premarket trading.
Here’s what the company reported compared with what Wall Street was expecting, based on average analyst estimates compiled by Refinitiv:
- Earnings per share: 48 cents, adjusted, vs. 52 cents expected
- Revenue: $28.09 billion vs. $28.38 billion expected
The grocer reported fiscal fourth-quarter net income of $259 million, or 32 cents per share, down from $854 million, or 96 cents per share, a year earlier.
After adjusting its earnings to exclude expenses from its pension plan, a derivatives loss and other items, Kroger earned 48 cents per share, missing the 52 cents per share expected by analysts surveyed by Refinitiv.
Net sales during the quarter ended Feb. 2 dropped 9.5 percent to $28.09 billion, falling short of expectations of $28.38 billion. However, excluding fuel, an extra week in 2017, the convenience store divestiture and a merger with meal kit company Home Chef, sales increased by 1.6 percent.
Sales at stores open for at least five quarters, excluding fuel, grew by 1.9 percent.
The grocer grew digital sales by 58 percent during fiscal 2018 and expanded its pickup or delivery programs to reach 91 percent of its customers, all part of its efforts to compete with retail giants Walmart and Amazon.
Looking to fiscal 2019, the grocer is targeting same-store sales sales growth, excluding fuel, of between 2 and 2.25 percent. It expects to earn between $2.15 to $2.25 per share for the full year, a more optimistic range than expected by analysts. Wall Street was forecasting the company to earn $2.16 per share this year.
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